A review of evidence for pneumococcal vaccination in adults at increased risk of pneumococcal disease: risk group definitions and optimization of vaccination coverage in the United Kingdom.

Introduction: Pneumococcal disease (PD) significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality, carrying substantial economic and public health burden. This article is a targeted review of evidence for pneumococcal vaccination in the UK, the definitions of groups at particular risk of PD and vaccine effectiveness.

Areas Covered: Relevant evidence focusing on UK data from surveillance systems, randomized controlled trials, observational studies and publicly available government documents is collated and reviewed.

Distribution of serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease in older adults from high-income countries and impact of pediatric and adult vaccination policies.

Background: Neither indirect protection through use of 13-valent and 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13 and PCV10) in pediatric National Immunization Programs (NIPs) nor direct vaccination with the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine have eliminated vaccine serotype invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in older adults. Vaccinating older adults with higher-valency PCV15 and PCV20 could address remaining IPD due to pediatric PCV serotypes plus additional IPD due to serotypes included in these vaccines.

Methods: We collected serotype-specific IPD data in older adults (≥65 years in most countries), from national or regional surveillance systems or hospital networks of 33 high-income countries.

Long-Term effects of COVID-19: a review of current perspectives and mechanistic insights.

Although SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, is primarily a respiratory infection, a broad spectrum of cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, and metabolic complications can occur. More than 50 long-term symptoms of COVID-19 have been described, and as many as 80% of patients may develop ≥1 long-term symptom. To summarize current perspectives of long-term sequelae of COVID-19, we conducted a PubMed search describing the long-term cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and neurologic effects post-SARS-CoV-2 infection and mechanistic insights and risk factors for the above-mentioned sequelae.

Distribution of Serotypes Causing Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Children From High-Income Countries and the Impact of Pediatric Pneumococcal Vaccination.

Background: The introduction and adoption of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) into pediatric national immunization programs (NIPs) has led to large decreases in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence caused by vaccine serotypes. Despite these reductions, the global IPD burden in children remains significant.

Methods: We collected serotype-specific IPD data from surveillance systems or hospital networks of all 30 high-income countries that met inclusion criteria.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution and antimicrobial nonsusceptibility trends among adults with pneumonia in the United States, 2009‒2017.

Background In the United States, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been recommended for children since 2010 and for adults aged ≥65 years since 2014. We assessed S. pneumoniae antimicrobial nonsusceptibility among adults with suspected pneumonia from hospital settings.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A: worldwide epidemiology.

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes mucosal and invasive diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) into routine infant immunization programs worldwide resulted in serotype 19A becoming a leading cause of the remaining pneumococcal disease burden in vaccinated and nonvaccinated individuals. This article reviews the impact of the latest generation PCVs (10-valent PCV, PCV10, and 13-valent PCV, PCV13) on serotype 19A.

Effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines in preventing pneumonia in adults, a systematic review and meta-analyses of observational studies.

Introduction: S. pneumoniae can cause a wide spectrum of diseases, including invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. Two types of pneumococcal vaccines are indicated for use in adults: 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV23) and a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13).

Antibiotic susceptibility rates of invasive pneumococci before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany.

Continuous nationwide surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was conducted in Germany. A total of 22,208 isolates from invasive pneumococcal disease were collected between July 1, 1992 and June 30, 2013. The present study was conducted to analyze changes in antimicrobial susceptibility and pneumococcal vaccine coverage after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany.

Global in vitro activity of tigecycline and comparator agents: Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial 2004-2013.

Background: The Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (TEST) is a global antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance study which has been ongoing since 2004. This report examines the in vitro activity of tigecycline and comparators against clinically important pathogens collected globally between 2004 and 2013.

Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using guidelines published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Pneumococcal meningitis and vaccine effects in the era of conjugate vaccination: results of 20 years of nationwide surveillance in Germany.

Background: Long-term complications and a case mortality rate of 7.5% make meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae a serious clinical threat. In 2006, a general pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) recommendation was issued for all children under 2 years in Germany.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution in children in the Russian Federation before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines into the National Immunization Program.

WHO recommends the inclusion of PCVs in childhood vaccination programs world-wide. Many countries including the Russian Federation are currently planning the inclusion of PCVs in their National Immunization Programs and, therefore, data on the pneumococcal serotype distribution is important to estimate the potential disease impact. Here we review eight recent epidemiological studies on the pneumococcal serotype distribution from Russia.

Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae serogroup 6 isolates from IPD in children and adults in Germany.

This study presents serogroup 6 isolates from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) before and after the recommendation for childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany (July 2006). A total of 19,299 (children: 3508, adults: 15,791) isolates were serotyped. Serogroup 6 isolates accounted for 9.

Epidemiology of serotype 19A isolates from invasive pneumococcal disease in German children.

Background: This study presents an analysis of 159 serotype 19A isolates from IPD in children before and after the general recommendation for childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany in July 2006. Vaccination formulations used were PCV7, PCV10 (from April 2009) and PCV13 (from Dec. 2009, replacing PCV7).

Susceptibility to tuberculosis is associated with TLR1 polymorphisms resulting in a lack of TLR1 cell surface expression.

Human TLR1 plays an important role in host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our aim was to analyze the association of the loss of TLR1 surface expression and TLR1 SNPs with susceptibility to TB. TLR1neg and TLR1pos cells from healthy individuals were identified by flow cytometry and compared by sequencing.

mef(A) is the predominant macrolide resistance determinant in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes in Germany.

In this study, macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from Germany were carefully characterised by susceptibility testing, phenotyping, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of macrolides resistance genes, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Of 2045 S. pneumoniae and 352 S.

Invasive group A streptococcal disease and association with varicella in Germany, 1996-2009.

A nationwide laboratory-based surveillance study was conducted to analyse the epidemiology of varicella-associated invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections in Germany. A total of 1342 iGAS samples were collected between 1 January 1996 and 22 September 2009. For 21 of these isolates, an association with varicella was observed.

Macrolide susceptibility and serotype specific macrolide resistance of invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Germany from 1992 to 2008.

Background: Macrolide resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae has been on a gradual increase in Germany for over a decade. The current study was undertaken against the background of the recent observation of declining macrolide resistance rates especially among German children. Nationwide surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease has been conducted in Germany since 1992.

Temporal Variations among Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Serotypes in Children and Adults in Germany (1992-2008).

Nationwide surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease has been conducted in Germany since 1992. From 1992 to 2008, a total of 12,137 isolates from invasive pneumococcal disease were collected. Data on serotypes were available for 9,394 invasive isolates.

Efficacy of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany: An analysis using the indirect cohort method.

Efficacy of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination has been shown in randomized controlled trials using 4 dose vaccination schedules in children under 2 years of age. A case-control study from the US showed considerable protection from IPD for reduced vaccination schedules and even some protection from only one dose. In Germany, delayed and incomplete vaccination is a major issue.

Superantigen genes are more important than the emm type for the invasiveness of group A Streptococcus infection.

Background: In this study, we examined the role of superantigen genes and emm genotypes of clinical Streptococcus pyogenes isolates collected in Germany between 1997 and 2003.

Methods: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for all 11 currently known superantigen genes and sequencing for emm types were used.

Results: Using a 2-step explorative data analysis procedure, we found that after combined analysis of superantigen genes and emm types, only the superantigen genes spea1-spea3, spem, and spea4 have a predictive value for invasiveness, with odds ratios of 7.